Last Modified: Friday, July 25, 2014 at 1:51 a.m.

Metro Theodore Butner's wife wiped away tears with a damp tissue and took deep breaths in the courtroom as she watched her husband, wearing orange, jailhouse garb, stand before Circuit Judge Michael Raiden.

Butner was convicted in April of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and shooting into a structure.

In March 2013, Butner entered Gorilla Auto Sales on Havendale Boulevard in Winter Haven and shot at his business partner, Aaron Aldrich, 41, of Lakeland, according to a Polk County Sheriff's Office arrest report.

"One bullet struck him in the crown of his head causing a laceration," the report states. "The other bullet struck (Aldrich) in the lower back of his head."

Aldrich ran from the business to a nearby pet store for help, the report said.

Aldrich later told investigators that there had been "litigation issues between the partners," the report said.

During the trial, the defense argued that Aldrich was armed with a pistol and was shot as Butner struggled with him over the weapon.

The courtroom was silent Thursday morning as Raiden read handwritten letters from Butner's family before sentencing.

"It's not like the court likes to ignore pleas for leniency," Raiden said to the family members present, "but in this case, it doesn't really make a difference."

The attempted second-degree murder charge carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years and the aggravated assault with a firearm charge has a mandatory minimum of 20 years. Raiden sentenced Butner to 15 years on the charge of shooting into a structure.

The sentences will run consecutively and add up to a total of 60 years in prison.

Butner was also ordered to pay more than $30,000 for the victim's medical bills.

Marlyn Black, a family friend, consoled Butner's wife, Suzzane, as she struggled to keep herself together during Thursday's hearing.

"Did (Butner) do something stupid — yes," Black said outside the courtroom after sentencing. "But there is more than one side to the story."

Aldrich and his mother were present in the courtroom during the sentencing but declined to testify in the hearing.

Outside of the courtroom, Aldrich would say only "justice is served."

[ Cody Dulaney can be reached at cody.dulaney@theledger.com or 863-802-7536. Follow him on Twitter @dulaneycd. ]

<p>BARTOW | A 76-year-old Lakeland man was given a 60-year prison sentence Thursday for the March 2013 shooting of his business partner. </p><p>Metro Theodore Butner's wife wiped away tears with a damp tissue and took deep breaths in the courtroom as she watched her husband, wearing orange, jailhouse garb, stand before Circuit Judge Michael Raiden.</p><p>Butner was convicted in April of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and shooting into a structure.</p><p>In March 2013, Butner entered Gorilla Auto Sales on Havendale Boulevard in Winter Haven and shot at his business partner, Aaron Aldrich, 41, of Lakeland, according to a Polk County Sheriff's Office arrest report.</p><p>"One bullet struck him in the crown of his head causing a laceration," the report states. "The other bullet struck (Aldrich) in the lower back of his head."</p><p>Aldrich ran from the business to a nearby pet store for help, the report said.</p><p>Aldrich later told investigators that there had been "litigation issues between the partners," the report said. </p><p>During the trial, the defense argued that Aldrich was armed with a pistol and was shot as Butner struggled with him over the weapon.</p><p>The courtroom was silent Thursday morning as Raiden read handwritten letters from Butner's family before sentencing.</p><p>"It's not like the court likes to ignore pleas for leniency," Raiden said to the family members present, "but in this case, it doesn't really make a difference."</p><p>The attempted second-degree murder charge carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years and the aggravated assault with a firearm charge has a mandatory minimum of 20 years. Raiden sentenced Butner to 15 years on the charge of shooting into a structure.</p><p>The sentences will run consecutively and add up to a total of 60 years in prison.</p><p>Butner was also ordered to pay more than $30,000 for the victim's medical bills.</p><p>Marlyn Black, a family friend, consoled Butner's wife, Suzzane, as she struggled to keep herself together during Thursday's hearing.</p><p>"Did (Butner) do something stupid — yes," Black said outside the courtroom after sentencing. "But there is more than one side to the story."</p><p>Aldrich and his mother were present in the courtroom during the sentencing but declined to testify in the hearing. </p><p>Outside of the courtroom, Aldrich would say only "justice is served."</p><p>[ Cody Dulaney can be reached at cody.dulaney@theledger.com or 863-802-7536. Follow him on Twitter @dulaneycd. ]</p>